Shoe stretcher



H. BROCK ET AL SHOE STRETCHER Feb( 2s, 192s. 1,669,912

Filed May 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I n" X yay Patented Feb. 28,1928.

UNITED STATES HARRY Bnoox AND JACOB DAUTCH, oF BUFFALO, NEWYoRK stron STRETCHER.

Application -led May 17,

This invention relates to'means for stretching shoes and hasforits object the provision of a novel device adapted to be inserted within a shoe of any kind and any size, Within certain reasonable limits, and provided with means whereby'the shoe may be stretched laterally or lon itudinally in case such is found necessary for the convenience and comfort of the wearer. Y

An important object is the provision `of a single device which maybe operated either for stretching shoes laterally or longitudinally, it being consequently unnecessary to have two separate mechanisms for performing the diiilerent operations, there being, as a result, a saving inthe cost of equipment and also a reduction `in the length of time necessary to stretch or stra-in a shoe.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device Yof this character and for this purposeembodying novel operating means for effecting lateral expansion to stretch a shoe transversely, the same operating means being capable of actuation to expand the device longitudinally for `effecting longitudinal stretching. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe stretcher embodying wing elements having a peculiar pivotal mounting and adapted to be forced apart by a specially arranged cam structure to exert the desired stretching action upon `a shoe, peculiarly constructed and mounted spring means being provided .for normally urging t ie wing members into contracted relation.

A more specific object is tov provide a stretching or straining device which in addition to the pivoted Wing elements includes a heelengaging element movably mounted with respect to the body, a floating or longitudinally movable screw element being provided forselectively `operating the `Wing elements or the heel engagingmember. i

The invention further contemplates the provision of a mechanism of this character embodying `various structural features which will be of manifest advantage, the device beingvmoreover simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy "to assemble and use, positive in action, ellicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects; and ladvantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter `more fully described 1926. Serial N0. 109,588.

and claimed, and illustrated in the accomof Figure 2 land looking in the direction of `the arrows,

Figure 5 `is a cross sectional view through :the forward portion :of thedevice taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1 and illustrating the pring means connected with the wingimemers,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line `6--6 of Figure l and illustrating the mounting `of the heel engaging member, and

i `Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4 and showing the `pivotal mounting for the Wing members.

i Referring more particularly to the drawings, we have shown the device as comprising a body member l() of suitable size, shape and material and formed Witha forwardlyextending' shank l2 terminating in a `widened portion 13 adapted to be engaged within the toe portion of a` shoe, Slipper, boot or other article 'of "footwear to be stretched. The body member 10 is of course intended to be located to the rear of the center of the shoe and carried at `the rear side thereof, by means to be' described, is a block-like member 14C adapted to engage within the heel portion of the shoe. At the juncture of the body portionl() with the shank portion 12 are shoulders 15 upon which may be formed` forwardly extending trunnion elements i 16 which terminate short of the upper ends of .the shoulders as clearly indicated in Figure 7 Actually, `the various parts may conveniently be formed `as aluminum castings in Awhich event these trunnion elements 4would of course be-integral With the body member l0. v i

The numeral 17 designates a pair of wing members which are located at opposite sides of the shank 12 and which arefornied at tion through the device taken on the line 4 4 their rear ends with bearing sockets 18 rotatably engaged upon the trunnions 16 so that the wing members will be capable of lateral movement-'toward Vor from each other. These wing members are curved in shape so as to conform substantially to the curvature ot the sides ot a shoe. The shoulders 19 at the rear of the toe piece 13 are beveled oit as indicated so as not to interfere with the swinging movement of the wings under the inlluencc of means to be described.

lt is preferable that the entire device including the body, the heel engaging member and the wings, together with the toe piece, be shaped to conform, more or less, to the shape of a shoe, the bottom surface being curved in conformity with the usual shape at the sole, and the other surfaces also being` curved in substantially the manner disclosed, there being, however, no particular limitations in this respect as many variations may be resorted to.

The shank member 12 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 20 and the confronting sides oi' the wing members 17 are formed with grooves 21 opposite the slot, the grooves terminating short of the ends of the wing members and the forward ends thereof being curved as shown at 22 for cooperation with a cam head 23 on the torward end of a loating operating screw 24V which is mounted for longitudinal movement with respect tothe device and which is slidable through a bore 25 in the body 10 and operated by means to be described. The wings are normally held together or in retracted position as by means oit' a coil spring 26 here shown as extending through a transverse hole 27 in the shank 12 and through registering holes 28 in the wing members, the ends of the spring being connected with screws 29, or their equivalent, countersunk within the opposite sides of the wing members. Clearly, at least one of the screws 29 must be detachably connected with the spring in order that assembling may be effected.

rllhe heel engaging member 14 above dcscribed is shown guidably connected with tle body 10 as by means ot a plurality ot tubular elements 30 preferably screwed inte tapped holes 31 in the member 14 and slid-V able within bores 32 in the body 10. The end of each tubular element engaged with the member 14 is represented as counterbored at `33 to deiine a retaining shoulder 34 for the head 35 of an anchor member which includes an extension 36 to which is suitably secured a. coil spring 37 located within the tubular elementand connected with a screw or the like 38 countersunk in the body 10 at the shoulder portion 15 thereof. The spring 37 in all of the tubular guide members operate to hold the heel engaging member 14 normally retracted or in engagement with the rear end of the body.l -While there are four ot these tubular guide elements disclosed, it should be understood that the number may be increased or decreased without materially affecting the invention and it is also possible to provide other specilic spring means instead of what is illustrated, it found advisable.

Journaled through the top of the body 10 is an operating shaii't 39 carrying a suitable handle such as that illustrated at 40 whereby it may be rotated. Carried by the lower end of this shaft and located within a recess or chamber 41 in the body is a bevel gear 42 meshing with a bevel gear 43 threaded onto the screw 24 and having a hub portion 44 engaging within a recess 45 in the body so that the gear cannot shitt out of its operative position.

The initial position of the parts is illustrated by full lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. ln the operation it will be seen that if it is desired to stretch a shoe transversely, the device is inserted therein, subsequently to which the operator turns the handle 4() in the proper direction to rotate the gear 43 in such direction that it will act to move the screw 24 forwardly. As a matter of fact it may be preferable to provide this screw with a lett hand thread so that the natural tendency ot the operator to turn the handle to the right will result in forward movement of the screw. Then the screw is moved forwardly the cam head 23 on the forward end thereof slides along the grooves 21 and when the convexforward portion of this head approaches or contacts with the curved torward ends 22 of the grooves the wing membersA 17 will be swung apart as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, thus exerting aA stretching or straining action upon the shoe.

After a shoe has been strctchedtransrersely and it is desired to stretch it longitudinally, or if it is desired to perform the latter operation irrespective ot the former, the device is placed within a shoe and the handle 40 turnedv in the other direction, in the present instance, counter-clockwise. The rotation of the gears will then cause the screw 24 to be moved rearwardly, the head 23 sliding along the grooves 21. After a few turns of the handle, the rear end of the screw will abut against the inner face of the heel engaging member 14 and continued turning movement of the handlewill result in the member 14 being 'forced away from the body for eiiecting the desired stretching action. The tubular members 30 act to guide the member 14 in its movement and to prevent canting or other distortional effects. Of course the springs 37 will hold the member 14 in engagement with the screw 24 and will act to restore the member to its initial position when the handle` isturned in the opposite direction at the termination of the stretching action; It is clear .that the screw? 24 may be said .to be floating inasmuch as it travels longitudinally under the influence of the gearing driven lby the operating handle. The engagement of the 'head 23 within the grooves 2l prevents turnin 'of 'the screw and restricts its `nmivement 'to t 1ek longitudinal,

From. the foregoing description and a study of the drawings 'it will be apparent that We have vthus provided a very simply constructed and easily voperated devicefor the purpose of stretchingshoes. A 'great advantage is 'that both longiti'ivdiil'al and transverse stretching may be 'effected 'by the employn'icnt of "this single device it being necessary for thesh'oejdealer or other ers'on tehave separate devices for the 'two 'di `rent operations. T his results in not lonlyfa saving in the cost of the equipment but also are duction in the time involved inasmuch as it is unnecessary 'to "change from one type of device to another for accomplishingfthe desired result. Itis really believed that the construction, operation and advantages will b'c readily apparent "to one skilled in the art without further explanation'. t Y 4 While we have shownaird described 'a "pre-` ferred embodiment of `the. invention, it should be understood that the disclosnre is merely an eimpliiication of the principles involved inasmuch 'as we reserve 'the rightt make such changes and modifications as will increase the adaptability and widen the `field i of utility of the device, provided fsuch 'variations 'constitute no departure from the salientfeatuies 'and spirit of the invention or the scope of the yclaims hereit appended. y l y Having 'thus described the invention, we claim: l A v 1. In a shoe stretching device, a body member, laterally movable wing members pivoted 'thereon 'at their rear ends, a heel engaging `member `at the rear 'endo the body member and inovable longitudinally thereof, and a single `means for selectively swinging said wing members or moving said heel enmember. v i 2..In a 'shefstretching device, a body member, laterally movable wing members pivoted thereon at their rear ends, a heel engaging member at the rear end `of the body member and movable longitudinally thereof, and screw means operable/in one direction for swinging said wing members and operable inthe other direction for moving said heel engaging member.

3. In a shoe stretching device, a body member, laterally movable Wing members y pivoted thereon, a heel engaging member at the rear end of the body member and movable longitudinally thereof, means for selectively swinging said wing members and moving said heel engaging member, include Within l@ls-lira shoe stretching device, a body `member, laterally movable wing members pivoted thereon, a heelen'gaging member at therear end of the body member and mov able `lon'gitudinally thereof, means for selec'- tively swinging said wing members and niovingsaitl heel engaging member, including a l'ongitiidinally movable screw having cam connfebtion with said wing members and adapted to abuttingly engage said heel engaging member, and means threaded onto the screw `for moving the same in a selected direction.

5. In shje stretching device, a body member `forn'red fwith a` forwardly extending shank, wing members located at opposite sides of th" vshank and pivoted at their rear `ends 'tio the body,` said shank having a slot therein `and said wing members having grooves registering with the slot, a screw mounted for longitudinal sliding movement the body and carrying a camr head engaging 'within said grooves, and nut inea-ns threaded onto the "screw for moving the 'same longitudinally.` t

6. In "a shoe l'strettihing devies, a body memlier formed with "a forwardly extending shank, wing members located at opposite sides ofthe shank and pivotcd at their rear ends to the body, 'said shank having a slot therein Vand "said wing membersV having grooves registering with the slot, a mounted for longitudinal movement within thebody, cam head engaging within said `grooves and 'acting to prevent rotation ot the screw, a gear threaded onto the screw and retained against longitiidii'ialmovement with respect qto Athe body, an operating shaft joue naled through the body at an angle to said Screw land carrying an operating handle, "and a gear Ton saidshaft meshing with said first named gear; i 7. In a shoe stretching device, a body,

means mounted thereon for 'engagement within the front portion of a shoe, a member mounted at the rear end of the body for engagement within the heel ortion of a shoe, a plurality of guides carried by said member and slidably mounted within the body, spring means normally urging the heel engaging member toward the body, and means engageable with said heel engaging member for forcing the same rearwardly with respect to the body.

8. In a shoe stretching device, a body, means mounted thereon for engagement lili() screw i within the front portion of a shoe, a member mounted at the rear end of the body for engagement within the heel portion of a shoe, a plurality ot' guides carried by said member and slidably mounted within the body, spring means normally urging the heel engaging member toward the body, a screw extending longitudinally within the body and having its rear end abuttingly engageable with the heel engaging member, and gear operated nut means engaging the screw for moving the same longitudinally.

9. In a shoe stretching device, a body, means mounted thereon 'for engagement within the l'ront portion ol' a shoe, a member mounted at the rear end of the body for engagement within the heel portion of a shoe, a plurality of guides carried by said member and slidably mounted within the body, spring means normally urging the heel engaging member toward the body, a longitudinally arranged screw within the body and shank having operative connection with said means for moving the same, said screw being engageable with said heel engaging member, and gear operated rnut means for moving the screw in a selected direction. K

` l0. In a shoe stretching device, a body member having a reduced shank at its forward portion -formed with a slot, the body being formed with vertically arranged trunnion elements at opposite sides of its juncture with the shank, a pair of wing members located respectively at opposite sides of the shank and formed with sockets rotatably engaged upon said trunnion elements, spring means yurging said wing members together, the confronting sides of the wing members being formed With grooves having curved ends, a longitudinally movable memberwithin the body, a cam head on said member movable along the slot and within said grooves` and means for moving` said member in a selected direction.

1l. In a shoe stretching device, a body formed with a reduced slotted shank at its forward portion, wing members located at opposite sides of the shank and pivoted to the body, said shank terminating at its forward end in a toe piece located forwardly of the wing members, said wing members being termed with transverse holes, a spring extendmg through said holes and through the shank, anchoring elements on the ends of the spring recessed into the opposite sides of the wing members, and means for moving the Wing members apart.

12., In a shoe stretching device, a body member adapted for insertionV within a shoe and having a toe piece engageable within the toe portion thereof, a heel engaging member at the rear end of the body, a plurality of tubular guides carried by the heel engaging memberv and slidable within the rear portionof the body, coil springs located within said tubular guides, and anchor elements at the ends of each spring, the anchor element at one end being seated Within the tubular guide and the one at the other end being seated within the body.

13. In a shoe stretching device, the combination of a body, laterally movable wing members, a rearwardly movable heel engaging member at the rear end of the body, a

bodily shilftable member having wedging engagement with the wing members when moved in one direction and abutting engagement with the heel engaging member when moved-in the opposite direction, and means `ifor n'iovingsaid shiftable member in one direction or the other for selectively moving said wing members and said heel engaging member.

14. In a shoe'stretching device, the combination of abody carrying a toe piece, laterally movable wing members between the body and the toe piece, a rearwardly movable heel engaging member at the rear end of the body, means for selectively moving said wing members and said heel engaging member, said means including a longitudinally extending floating member abuttingly engageable with the heel engaging member and carrying means engageable with the wing members, and means for moving said floating member in a selected direction.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures.

HARRY BROCK. JACOB DAUTCH. 

